Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries or any quotes borrowed/used.
Notes: Some of you may not like the turn I've taken my story, some of you might like it. I don't know. But I hope those of you decide to give it a chance and continue reading. Maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised.
kings and queens of promise
"But don't you come here and say I didn't warn you
About the way your world can alter
And oh how you try to command it all still
Every single time it all shifts one way or the other."
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New Orleans was a city bustling with activity, as it always had, but this century brought with it simply more. Steph had been in New Orleans a few times before, one of which was before she'd shipped out to help in WWII and also in 1912, in which there had been a bar fight, her brother, and the meeting of Kol Mikaelson. They had seen relatively little of New Orleans, but had enjoyed what they had.
That day, Steph stayed only a few inches from Klaus' form, for she was in no hurry to get lost in the loud, musical crowd at the French Quarter. There were kiosks lining the street, and Klaus was leading her towards one in particular. The clouds shifted and the sun was revealed, causing Stephanie to put on her sunglasses and shift beneath her dark leather jacket, revealing a light blue tank top and the hem of a white undershirt. Her lapis lazuli ring hung off of her necklace chain, and her forest green rose tattoo was clearly visible on the back of her neck.
They arrived at the stand Klaus was clearly eager to get to, while the woman manning the station was less enthused. She was a heavy set woman with mocha colored skin, and she wore a dark blue shirt that went down to her elbows. Around her curly hair was a pink bandana tied at the back of her head. Her face was the picture of obstinacy as she started packing up her things at the sight of Klaus and Stephanie approaching her.
"Is there some history here I should be worrying about?" Stephanie murmured. Klaus grimaced.
"I have a history with everyone, darling," Klaus muttered, and then turned to the woman to greet her pleasantly. "Good afternoon." He seated himself down in front of the woman, gesturing for Stephanie to sit next to him. Steph slipped into the chair quietly, observing the two people before her. In her pocket, her phone vibrated.
"I have nothing to say to you," The woman said flatly, hands folded neatly in front of her on the wooden kiosk.
Klaus pulled a mock-wounded face. "Oh, that's not very nice, is it? You don't even know me."
"I know what you are." The woman was neither impressed, nor taken in; Stephanie admired her, a little. "You're half vampire, half beast; you're the hybrid." Her eyes darted to Steph's face, "But your pretty little girlfriend is just a vampire." Stephanie tilted her head. While Klaus and the woman were occupied, she slipped out her phone and discovered a text from Damon; GOT TO NYU SAFE. BE CAREFUL IN NOLA AND DON'T DO ANYTHING I WOULDN'T. Stephanie rolled her eyes; like that really set any limits. She'd called Damon on the flight to New Orleans, but kept her explanations to a minimum. There was no need to have him worry about possible witch uprisings or the fact that she was traveling with Klaus.
Klaus only smiled. "I'm the Original hybrid, actually, but that's a long story for another visit, eh? I'm looking for someone." Seeing her incredulous look, he elaborated further, "A witch. Perhaps you might be able to help me find her; her name is Jane-Anne Devereux."
The woman's face gave away her jolt of fear, even as she stated that she didn't know who Klaus was talking about. Stephanie's brows furrowed because the name tickled something in the back of her head as well. Jane sound so familiar . . .
Klaus leaned forward, unimpressed and not about to let a street vender keep him from discovering what was being planned against him. Stephanie braced herself in the event that she had to stop him from murdering their new acquaintance. "Well, that's a fib then, isn't it?" He ducked his head and took one of her hands, but his voice was oily. "Now, you see, I know that you're a true witch – a pearl in this sea of posers." His light eyes met hers as he warned her, "So enough with the fabrications. I've quite a temper."
"Klaus," Stephanie warned.
The witch ripped her hand from Klaus' grasp and glowered. "Witches aren't allowed to talk out of school about their magic. The vampire in charge won't allow it; it's against the rules. And I don't break Marcel's rules."
Stephanie could feel Klaus tense against her, and heard it in his voice. "Where do you suppose that I could find Marcel?" The name was completely unfamiliar to Steph. The witch side-eyed her before writing down a presumed location on a slip of scrap paper, sliding to Klaus, who pocketed it.
"Thank you for your time." Klaus smirked, his temper satisfied, and he led the way, knowing exactly where to go because of the information the witch-vender had been able to give him.
Together, they went to the written location and found a club, where a handsome dark skinned man was singing passionately into the microphone. There were bodies everywhere, but most of them were vampires; there were very few living beings with pounding hearts and enticing blood to tempt Stephanie off her more . . . balanced . . . diet.
"So who is Marcel?" Stephanie asked. She took off her sunglasses and slid them into a pocket within her jacket.
Klaus nodded towards the singing man. "He's a prodigy of mine." Klaus' eyes crinkled in amusement and Steph even so a flash of a dimple for a split second. "I taught him quite a few tricks; some of them I learned from you."
"Good to know that I contributed to the cause of your imminent downfall," Stephanie muttered. "Damon would be so happy."
Klaus laughed derisively. "Marcel isn't going to be my downfall. Nothing will be; I'm immortal." Stephanie only rolled her eyes and kept her mouth shut, short of saying something scornful that would make the Hybrid even more disagreeable. Klaus and Stephanie approached the vampire Marcel together, coming to a stop a few feet away.
Marcel left the stage as he finished the song, downing a tumbler of some kind of alcoholic beverage. He was handsome with dark skin and chocolate eyes, Stephanie observed in a detached kind of way. Marcel paused and set the glass down slowly, and turned his head in their direction. He gave Steph a cursory glance, but ultimately dismissed her as a threat; he gazed at Klaus with something that might have been admiration, scorn, or a little something of both.
"Klaus."
"Marcel."
"It must have been a hundred years," Marcel continued coolly, "since that nasty business with your Papa."
Klaus' exterior chilled another ten degrees and he swaggered forwards. "Has it truly been that long?" Stephanie arched her brows at the sudden coldness in Klaus' mannerisms; he'd been warm and welcoming to the idea of greeting his old friend only moments ago. Then again, anyone who mentioned Mikael was sure to face Klaus' nasty temper.
"The way I hear it is that he ran you out of town; left a trail of dead vampires in his wake." Marcel took a step closer to Klaus, cocky and unafraid.
"And yet, it was quite fortunate that you managed to survive," Klaus said, coolly appraising his protégée. "My father, unfortunately – or fortunately in my case – was incinerated to dust. By me." This was a catalyst, Stephanie saw, as two vampires immediately melted off the bar and came to stand at Marcel's side as back up. More vampires slowed, apparently ready to defend their leader. Stephanie felt herself tense, and worry crawled up on her. Klaus and her made a good team, sure, though having Damon there would have relaxed her nerves a little (for Damon was a good guy to have in a spat when you find your back up against a wall as he was prone to use dirty tricks).
Finally, Marcel spoke again, "Well, if I had known that you were coming back in town, I'd have-"
Klaus didn't let him finish. "Would have done what, Marcel?" He took another step closer and then they were nearly nose to nose. Stephanie was a few paces behind him, eyeing the vampires by Marcel's side. "What would you have done?"
"I'd have thrown you a damn parade." Marcel's face split into a shit eating grin, revealing brilliant white teeth. "Niklaus Mikaelson!" They embraced, both laughing and the vampires on Marcel's side relaxed minutely. "My mentor, my savior, my sire!" He let go of Klaus, only to turn his dark eyes on Steph again, appraising her. "And who is this beautiful, petite woman? Flavor of the week?"
Stephanie arched her brows. "Not likely," She replied dryly.
Klaus chuckled darkly. "Oh, my friend, no, no, no. This, mate, is Stephanie Salvatore; she's the Ripper of Monterrey." Anyone could tell that he savored the sound of her name on his tongue; could hear the pride of being with the monster, the Ripper. The knowledge regularly would have made Stephanie uncomfortable, and she was, a little. But he also felt pride of being with Stephanie Salvatore, the vampire savior that tried to help people and drank blood bags; she could felt the affection every time they exchanged blood.
Marcel did a double take and Stephanie curled her lip into a sweet smile, just to set the other vampire off balance. "This is the Ripper." He took a step forwards and took her hand, kissing her wrist. He gave her a blinding smile. "How lovely it is to meet the woman that has captured Niklaus' heart." Stephanie's green eyes searched Marcel's face and she knew that she was being mocked. Klaus was oblivious, for the first time in his excessively long life. Marcel leaned forwards and asked quietly with a smirk on his face, "Do you really rip of the heads of your meals? I mean, surely that's just an exaggeration of time. Embellishments often happen to tall tales, don't they?"
Stephanie pressed her lips together. "Unfortunately, that's true."
"'Unfortunately?'" Marcel questioned.
"I've seen the error of my ways," Stephanie said tightly and pulled her hand away. "I don't really do that anymore."
"Well, that's no fun," Marcel drawled and then cackled with his friends. "Time must have tamed the great Ripper."
"If you're that appreciative, and you stand still, I'll demonstrate on you. Or your friends," Stephanie replied easily. Marcel was an irritant. Klaus sniggered.
"This one," he pointed at Stephanie, "is definitely a keeper, Niklaus. I like her."
Klaus bared his teeth into a shark-like smile. "Indeed. But she's not a bird, Marcel; this one cannot be kept. You'd do well do remember that." Speaking from experience, he would know. Marcel only hummed noncommittally and led the way towards the back of the bar, with a couple of his vampires following close behind. They sat and settled into an office, and Marcel poured them all drinks.
"It's good to see you," The darker skinned vampire said again, laughing, at ease in what was clearly his element.
"It's good to be home," Klaus smiled, but not wide or remotely real enough to let his dimples show, "but please tell me the current state of Bourbon Street isn't your doing."
"Well, someone's got to draw in the out-of-towners," Marcel explained, unapologetic, "or we'd all go hungry."
Stephanie's eyes wandered the room and settled on one of Marcel's vampires conspicuously standing in the room, guarding. On his finger was a lapis lazuli ring.
Klaus noticed it as well. "I see your friends are daywalkers." He voice was still pleasant, but there was a hard edge to it now.
"Yeah, well, I shared the secret of your daylight ring to a few buddies of mine. Just the inner circle though," Marcel explained, his tone relaxed and with a smile on his face. "Your girlfriend has one too."
"I got mine from the woman who turned me," Stephanie said.
"Who was your sire?" Marcel asked curiously.
"Katherine Pierce," Stephanie said easily and enjoyed the shock on Marcel's face.
"She's a bit of legend herself," He said a moment later, and he leaned forward. "Why did she turn you?"
"She was a friend of mine and a lover of my brother's," Stephanie said easily, and omitted the part where she'd had to be compelled to even drink Katherine's blood.
"But she's an enemy of Klaus'," Marcel pushed, clearly interested.
Arching a brow, Stephanie leaned back in her chair. "Is there a point coming up in this interrogation?"
Marcel laughed again. "I like you," He repeated, shaking his head.
Klaus wedged his way back into the conversation, clearly slightly irritated, "Tell me how you found a witch willing to give you daylight rings."
Marcel gave them a slow, entrancing smile as he leant forwards over the table. "I've got the witches here wrapped around my finger." Despite herself, Stephanie pictured Marcel trying the same thing with Bonnie and found the idea laughable, especially with the younger girl on Expression; she'd have Marcel kneeling at her feet and then burning to a crisp in less than five minutes of meeting him. Which Stephanie didn't necessarily disapprove of, even only knowing this vampire for less than an hour. But thinking about Bonnie and Expression in the same sentence made the amusement disappear from mind; the witch hadn't been doing particularly great when Steph had left Mystic Falls.
Klaus laughed. "Is that so?" He inquired. "I'm looking for a witch . . . she's called Jane-Anne Devereux. I heard she's got some business with me." Klaus' lips were pulled into a broad smile and then he waited.
"Jane-Anne?" Marcel asked and Stephanie didn't miss the quick look between Marcel and his friends. Suspicion rose in her and she filed the action away for further thought. "In that case, you really probably ought to come with me." He rose, showing them that he was leading this expedition.
"Showtime!" Marcel led Stephanie and Klaus out onto the now dark street, where they were joined by numerous other vampires. The other vampires, nearly all of which not owning a daylight ring, were delighted with the night; they walked on top of the buildings and cars, jumping from root to roof top. Music blared from stereos and car radios, all playing the same song. The three of them walked down the middle of the street together, a few of Marcel's closest vampires always within reach. The others were branched off, jumping and leaping and enjoying themselves as they made their way down Bourbon Street.
Steph caught the tail end of a conversation between Klaus and Marcel, "– if your blood relations let you down, forget 'em; make your own." Marcel winked. "You taught me that, Klaus. What's mine is yours, as always. Even my nightwalkers."
"I don't know," Stephanie found herself adding to the conversation. "I find that my brother always has my back in a tough spot. Even when we're at each other's throats."
"You're lucky then," Marcel said smoothly. "Not all of us have that luxury."
"Your nightwalkers are hardly subtle, are they?" Klaus observed distastefully as he noticed the roof jumpers and car leapers.
Marcel laughed, and Stephanie was starting to think that the vampire viewed everything as a colossal joke. "There ain't no such thing as subtle, baby." He whistled and pumped his fist, exciting the crowd of bloodthirsty vampires. They paused in the street then, and two vampires brought forward a woman with long dark brown hair. Her hands were tied in front of her body and her lips were twisted up into a grimace. Stephanie squinted.
That was the Jane from the Grill who'd talked to her, right before some of her memories had disappeared.
"Jane-Anne Devereux," Marcel drew out and the crowd went ballistic. "Give it up for her! Come on!" The cheers rose and then quieted. "Jane-Anne Devereux, you have been accused of witchcraft out of the bounds of the rules set and enforced by me. How do you plead? Ooh," He suddenly spun around and asked Stephanie and Klaus. "Was that convincing? I went to law school in the fifties. Hold that thought – " He ducked back over to Jane-Anne, "But seriously, you know the drill. How do you plead?"
"I didn't do anything," Jane-Anne snapped. Her voice wavered when she caught sight of Stephanie's narrowed eyes. She made an abortive motion with her hand and her throat.
Don't tell them anything.
"Oh, that's a lie," Marcel drawled, "you know it, I know it, and you hate that I know it! It drives you witches ever-loving crazy that I know your every move! That you can't do magic in this town without getting caught!"
Something in Stephanie burned with anger and she crossed her arms. "So, why don't we just cut to the chase, huh?" Marcel plucked a few leaves off of a tree branch that he deftly picked up off the ground, "Why don't you tell me what magic you're brewing . . . you tell me, and I'll grant you mercy." He leaned toward her. "I am, after all, a merciful man."
"Rot in hell, monster," The witch snapped and the air around her crackled; Stephanie could almost taste the magic in the air.
"I'll tell you what. I'll give you one more chance –" But he didn't. Instead, Marcel whipped the branch around so quickly that only a vampire's enhanced eyes could track the movement, and tore open Jane-Anne's neck, making blood spew and the witch drop to her knees, breathing already almost stopped. The crowd went wild, screaming and cheering and Stephanie's jaw fell open in surprise.
"Or not," Marcel breathed, and next to Stephanie, Klaus blinked rapidly, taken aback. Steph spared him a glance, but then rushed forwards towards the witch. But Marcel's big hands reached out and caught her around the waist and kept her from reaching Jane-Anne.
"Let go of me," Stephanie said flatly. She twisted her body and tried to force him to release her, but Marcel was stronger than her. How much older was he, exactly?
"She's gone; there's nothing you can do for her now." Marcel laughed. "Besides, witches aren't allowed to do magic here and she broke the rules. It was a just punishment."
"It was unnecessary," Stephanie snapped and wriggled her body in an attempt to loosen his grip around her middle.
"You're not like I expected the Ripper of Monterrey to be." Marcel's voice was flippant, but his eyes were shining with anger and conceit. "I thought you'd be . . . something else. Vicious. Seductive. Bloodthirsty. You used to kill unnecessarily too, Ripper." The sound of her moniker coming from Marcel's mouth sounded wrong. Dirty.
Before Klaus could come over, Stephanie gripped Marcel's arm and snapped the ulna and the radius halves and in his moment of distraction, she escaped his hold. Stephanie flashed to Jane-Anne's side and checked her pulse, even though she knew the action was useless. The witch was dead.
Klaus spoke and he sound completely unamused. "I told you I wanted to talk to Jane-Anne."
"Walk with me." Marcel clapped a hand on Klaus' shoulder and steered him and Stephanie away from the crowd. His tone turned conciliatory as he said, "Hey, I'm sorry; I got caught up in the show. But those witches think they still have power in this city and I have to show them that they don't. I never waste a chance to show them in force; another lesson I learned from you."
Stephanie pressed her lips together in a thin, furious line, while Klaus listened quietly.
"Besides, anything you could have gotten out of her, I can find out for you myself. And I will, I promise," Marcel swore.
"Alright then, mate." Klaus gave a slight, false, smile. "And whatever it was that Jane-Anne knew, it doesn't matter anymore does it?"
Marcel laughed. "Good. Well, let's eat then. All that spilt blood makes me hungry." He led the way, though Stephanie and Klaus stayed for a few seconds longer. Klaus paused one of Marcel's friends with a quick hand.
"Thierry, isn't it? You wouldn't happen to know where any more of those Devereux witches might be, eh?" The vampire apprentice, Thierry, swallowed thickly and then rattled off directions to the restaurant Sophie Devereux worked at. "Thank you for your cooperation. Don't tell Marcel about our little chat, eh?" Thierry nodded and flashed away as soon as Klaus' released the front of his shirt.
"I'll go talk to Sophie," Stephanie volunteered. "You keep up appearances with Marcel."
"Won't that seem suspicious if you just disappear?" Klaus arched his brows.
"It'll seem more suspicious if I go in your place," Steph rebutted. "I'll call you after I've talked to her." She gave him a quick wave and disappeared before he could continue to try and talk her out of meeting with the witch.
Stephanie had some business with Sophie Devereux anyway.
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.
"Sophie, right?" Stephanie asked warily. The woman standing behind the counter and chopping vegetables was physically older than Stephanie, and her back was rigid with tension.
"Who wants to know?"
"The vampire you met in Mystic Falls a few days ago," Stephanie replied. Sophie stiffened and turned around, knife held carefully in front of her body.
"What do you want?"
"Not to hurt you, if that's what you're concerned about." Stephanie lifted her hands to placate the witch.
"Then what are you here for?" Sophie snapped and she angrily wiped tears away from her eyes. She moistened her lips and looked down for a moment to collect herself. "Here to rub it in that my sister is dead?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Certainly the great Ripper of Monterrey enjoyed the show, right?" Sophie blithely continued.
"I don't do that anymore," Stephanie corrected firmly, "and what Marcel did was horrific, but I couldn't stop him, unfortunately. I'm sorry about Jane-Anne." What she wanted to know now, was how the news had traveled so quickly across the Quarter.
Sophie nodded sharply. "Not that a vampire's condolences are worth much, but thanks. But that's not what you came over here for, was it?"
"No," Stephanie admitted. She crossed her arms and took a slow step further. "I have a couple of questions that I would appreciate some answers to." When Sophie did nothing but stare, she continued. "Just two to start with, actually. The first is this; what did your sister want with Klaus so badly that it got her killed on a street corner?"
Sophie's lips thinned and her gazed drifted somewhere over Steph's shoulder. "I see you brought some friends."
Stephanie turned and saw two of Marcel's nightwalkers. "Marcel must be tailing me."
"And the fact that you're interest enough for Marcel to put tails on you is all that matters. Klaus may have built this town, but Marcel is in charge now. He killed my sister because she broke the rules. If they see me talking to you in front of them, I am going to be next."
"So let's talk somewhere private," Stephanie suggested. "Is there somewhere we can go that neither Marcel nor his gang can find us?" Sophie's eyes lit up and the vampire felt queasiness in her stomach that suggested this wasn't the best idea.
"Follow me," Sophie commanded. "I know just the place." She beckoned Stephanie forward and they slipped out the back door of the restaurant into an alley. Sophie pulled her knit cap a little farther down her forehead and pulled up the neck of her jacket. They started walking and passed a metal trash can with incense and candles laid out, where Sophie took a moment to pause.
"Is this . . . ?"
"It's kind of like a private memorial until we get her body," Sophie said bitterly and Stephanie nodded. She put her hands and stepped back, giving Sophie a moment to grieve before they left. While she waited, Steph pulled out her phone and texted Klaus; he needed to keep an eye on him, especially if he was putting tails on her.
As she was sliding her phone back into her pocket, Stephanie heard a noise in the alley behind. The vampire's head jerked up in time with Sophie's, to see the two vampires from the bar hemming them in against the wall.
"Doing some magic out here?" The one with the gruff beard asked.
"Just praying to my dead sister. Is that allowed?" Sophie's voice was like venom.
"Don't make this into a thing, Sophie," The dark skinned vampire said contemptuously.
"Why don't you two back off a little?" Stephanie suggested. "Sophie isn't doing anything wrong and neither am I."
"The hybrid was asking questions about Jane-Anne," The scruffy vampire said. "Marcel wants to know why."
"Oh, that sounds like witch business," Sophie said carelessly. "I'd say ask her yourself, but . . . you know, Marcel killed her." The scruffy vampire snarled and seized the witch by her throat, while the dark skinned one went after Stephanie.
As he moved into pin her to the stone alley wall, Steph shoved a hand into his chest and ripped out his heart. The vampire choked and desiccated. She spun around and darted to Sophie's side and snapped the other vampire's neck, making him drop to the ground, boneless. Sophie stepped back, hands to her throat and she regulated her breathing.
"Thanks," She said hoarsely.
"No problem," Stephanie replied honestly. "Now just tell me what I want to know, and I'll consider that repayment."
Sophie sighed, but agreed. "Okay. We're going to the witches' crypt. Some people will meet us there."
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Klaus was in a club that was filled with vampires, humans, and who the hell knew what else that was assumedly run by Marcel when he received Stephanie's text. It made it narrow his eyes and shoot Marcel a suspicious glance.
Marcel, next to him at the second floor of the club, leaning over the railing they were standing at, twitched at the attention. "Klaus? Something the matter, man?"
"Actually, something just came to my attention," Klaus said.
"Oh?"
"Yes, well, I'd like to know why you're having Stephanie followed, and do you have men on me too?" Klaus asked sharply. He felt a burning anger rising in his belly; he didn't like being spied on and liked the idea of Marcel having people just a hare's breath from Stephanie without him there even less. "We don't need chaperones, Marcellus."
"Come here, friend. Let's take a little walk, shall we?" Marcel put a hand between Klaus' shoulder blades and gently nudged him in the direction of a balcony overlooking New Orleans. Klaus let himself be led outside as Marcel began to explain himself. "Look at that skyline, huh? Now that's what I call progress. More hotels, more tourists, more fresh bloods. And the humans? I taught them to look the other way." Marcel beamed.
"That still doesn't tell me what you're doing having us tailed," Klaus warned.
"It's just to make sure nothing happens to your girlfriend," Marcel reassured with a broad grin. "I know how much she means to you, from our past and from the way you look at her now. If one of mine or anyone in NOLA accidently hurt her, I'd be beside myself. I'm just looking out for you guys. That's what we do here, man."
Klaus leveled him a suspicious look. "And the witches? What are you doing with the witches and those 'rules?' They live in fear, clearly. And I'm curious as to how you know when they do magic . . ."
"Maybe I've got a secret weapon," Marcel teased, but there was seriousness in his eyes that Klaus would investigate later. "Something that gives me complete control over this town."
"Is that a fact?"
"Might be," Marcel said. "Or maybe I'm just bluffing." He shrugged and pulled something out of his pocket. Klaus discreetly sniffed the air and . . .
"You take vervain," He said flatly.
Marcel gave him a considering glance. "Burns like a bitch," He confirmed, "but I just want to lower the amount of things that I'm vulnerable to." His attention was quickly taken by something down on the street. "Oh, dinner."
"She's either extremely stupid or scarily brave," Klaus muttered.
"Let's see which." Marcel grinned and wiggled his brows before hopping over the side of the balcony. He began to romance the blonde bartender below, and Klaus heard someone familiar behind him.
"Evening, Elijah," Klaus drawled. "What brings you here to the French Quarter tonight?"
"What an entirely unsurprising welcome," Elijah returned with a slight smirk. "Follow me."
"Not in the mood for follow the leader, brother," Klaus said shortly. "I need to find out what those witches are planning against me." And I'm waiting for Stephanie to call back, he didn't say.
Elijah smiled at him knowingly. "I think I may have discovered that out for you. I saw Stephanie with the witches before I came to you, you know."
Klaus stiffened. Stephanie had gone to talk to Sophie yes, but that was one witch, as in singular. Not witch(es). "What?"
"She's with the French Quarter's coven in their hallowed ground," Elijah continued. He grimaced. "I, ah, ran into them. Unfortunately, there was an issue that prevented her from joining us here."
Klaus' hands clenched the metal railing of the balcony and below him, he heard Marcel's continued attempts at romancing the girl. "What. Happened."
"Follow me," Elijah repeated, but this time, Klaus followed without hesitation.
.
.
.
"Where are we going?" Klaus demanded as they passed under the arch that welcomed them into a cemetery. "This is getting a little to cliché for my liking, brother."
"We're going to find out what the witches are planning, Niklaus," Elijah said as he continued to lead the way. They walked into a crypt farther into the cemetery, where they found a pale, dark headed witch. "Sophie," Elijah greeted. "He's all yours. Proceed."
Klaus' eyebrows rose. "Sophie Devereux, what's the meaning of this?" He thought the witch looked entirely too smug. "Where's Stephanie?"
"You know you're famous in this town, right?" Sophie sidestepped the question. "There are bedtime stories about the fabled, mysterious and all-powerful hybrid, Klaus." Klaus smirked a little at that. "We know that Marcel was nothing but an orphaned street brat, until you took him in that is." She took a steadying breath. "But now he's out of control and I'm going to stop him. Help me."
Klaus smiled and turned to Elijah. "This is why you've brought me here? This is ridiculous."
"Hear her out," Elijah said firmly.
"No, I don't think I will." Klaus bared his teeth at the witch. "Tell me where Stephanie is, and we'll be going."
Sophie slowly shook her head. "I don't think you understand how this works, Klaus." She whistled and then there were two witches striding into the crypt through some back entrance with a very disgruntled Stephanie behind them, and two more witches behind her.
"You needed an entire brigade of witches to keep you here?" Klaus asked, a little bemused at the situation despite himself.
Stephanie rolled her eyes, a sure sign that she was done with everything and irritated at everyone. "These witches are crazy and I'm blaming you for my abduction."
"I take full responsibility," Klaus gave him with a grin and held up his hands.
"Good," Sophie said shortly, interrupting them, "because this is serious."
"Seriously crazy," Stephanie corrected primly and she met Klaus' eyes. "What they're saying is impossible, Klaus. It's against the laws of nature."
He furrowed his brow. "What's going on?"
"Marcel may be able to control the witches of this town," Sophie said, "but as witches, we can still tell when the balance of nature has cooked up something new. This time, we just . . . helped it along a bit."
"In other words," Klaus said slowly, "you went against the laws of nature."
Stephanie nodded and Sophie grimaced. "So to speak," Sophie admitted. "We have a seer and she saw one possible outcome for this phenomena, which was originally part of the balance . . . but the future is precarious and some events changed it, leaving us to do something about this ourselves."
"You're talking in circles. Watch it witch; you're trying my patience," Klaus warned.
Sophie glared. "What I'm saying is, we used our ancestral magic to make something impossible become improbable. It was just luck in the end that really served us well."
"Oh? What luck?"
"It was good luck that you were in a romantic relationship with a woman, or at least a sexual one," Sophie said.
"Get to the point," Klaus snarled.
"A week or so ago, my sister Jane-Anne and I went to Mystic Falls to spy on you and your girlfriend," Sophie explained. "When it became apparent to us that you were in a sexual relationship, we finalized our decision and stole some of Stephanie Salvatore's personal effects so that we could perform a spell on her. A spell that would change her body and make it so she could reproduce . . . with you, a hybrid."
Klaus was speechless for all of two seconds. Then he burst into near hysterical laughter. "You're joking," He said with a smirk and then turned to Stephanie, whose hands were crossed across her middle. "She's joking."
"I think she's insane," Stephanie volunteered, but her brows were furrowed.
"You're both wrong," Elijah said smoothly. He turned to Klaus. "Brother, the girl is carrying your child. Just stop talking and listen for a moment and the truth will be revealed to you."
"You're all barmy," Klaus accused, feeling real irritation. "This is mad."
"This is magic," Sophie corrected. "You're part werewolf, which makes your sperm still viable and for all intents and purposes, you're fertile, Klaus. Since you generally only sleep with her," She jerked a thumb at Steph, "We just had to make it so that her body could change and adapt to carry a child to term. Fortunately for us, it worked. She's pregnant with your kid. Granted, it's only been a few days, so the brat is mostly only a bundle of cells and a heart, but you get the picture."
"Bloody hell," Klaus breathed.
"Just listen, Niklaus," Elijah begged. "Please."
"Humor them," Stephanie advised uncomfortably. "Because the sooner we do that, the sooner we can leave and get back to our own personal craziness in Mystic Falls." She looked smaller, surrounded by the tall witches, and it made Klaus' gums itch to tear out their throats for taking her like this, for making this happen.
"Fine," Klaus snapped at the witches. "Everyone shut up, then." The crypt immediately became dead silent except for the regular heartbeats of the witches, the slow heartbeats of the vampires . . . and one, rapid pitter patter of a heartbeat going a hundred miles an hour emanating from Stephanie's abdomen.
"Considering the kid is a whole bunch of supernatural, it's development is slightly faster than normal, and because of your super enhanced hearing, you are able to hear its heartbeat much sooner than a transvaginal ultra sound would for a regular human," Sophie said.
Klaus looked over and met Steph's green eyes, which were widened in extreme alarm. Her lips were parted in a small 'o' and her hands appeared to be trembling. "There is not a chance in hell that this is actually happening," She said after a moment of nervous silence. "This is not real."
"It is, actually," Sophie said unhelpfully. "My sister gave her life to confirm this pregnancy. The lives of this vampire and that baby are in the hands of us, the witches. If you don't help us take down Marcel, so help me, Stephanie won't live long enough to see her first maternity dress."
Klaus felt his anger pulsing and growing, but it was Elijah that stepped up. "If you want Marcel dead, then it's done; I'll kill him myself."
"No!" Sophie snapped. "We can't, not yet. We have a clear plan that we need to follow and there are rules."
"How dare you command me?" Klaus asked quietly. He predatorily slinked over to Sophie, baring his teeth. "How dare you try and control me? I'll kill you before you lay a hand on her!"
"You won't." Sophie lifted her chin. "I'll kill her now."
"Excuse me?"
Everyone turned their heads to look at the vampire in question. Stephanie was looking incredibly peeved, dark brows pulled together, lips pressed into a thin, angry line, and her hands placed defiantly on her lips.
"This is ridiculous and I do not consent to whatever outrageous plan that you've concocted than involves an innocent child," Stephanie said firmly, her fury just beneath the surface. "So, you made me pregnant to manipulate Klaus into doing your bidding. Wonderful. That's a really awesome thought out plan, really. So if he consents to help you off Marcel, do I get to leave? Or do I get to sit around and look pretty while I gestate a three quarter vampire child for the next nine months?"
"You stay here for leverage," Sophie said evenly.
"What keeps me from leaving New Orleans?" Stephanie asked venomously. Unbidden, Klaus felt his lips curl into a smirk; Steph had fire in her veins and when she let it out, she was glorious.
"A binding spell," Sophie answered. "I've bound the life force of the child to me through you. Considering you're immortal for all intents and purposes, I couldn't bind you to me. But the child is one quarter werewolf and mortal, as far as we know. If I die, so does that brat."
Stephanie's fists clenched.
"Listen, Niklaus," Elijah said smoothly. "This could be our chance to rebuild everything that was taken from us; rebuild our family and city. It'll all be ours again. We just have to follow the witches' plans and take out Marcel. Our parents despised us, brother. All we have ever wanted was our family together again. And with us here, Stephanie and the child, and we can call Kol and Finn and Rebekah . . . we can have that. You can't truthfully tell me you weren't planning on trying to get rid of him anyway."
There was silence.
Then, "No, you're right," Klaus eventually replied. He looked at Elijah dead in the eyes. "I was. But I don't want to be manipulated. How exactly are you involved in this, Elijah?"
Elijah blinked. "You can't seriously think that I had a hand in manipulating you, Niklaus."
Klaus threw up his arms. "I don't know what to think! I come back to New Orleans and find that my big brother has found these witches before me and is apparently on their side!"
"I'm on your side," Elijah argued. "I'm always on your side, Niklaus, always and forever. I came to New Orleans because Katarina visited me and said you were having trouble here. I came to make sure."
"Katherine," Stephanie muttered and then cursed. Klaus' nostrils flared.
"Listen," Sophie interrupted with a hand wave. "You can fight about this later. Are you taking our deal or not? Because if you don't, I'll stake Stephanie right now."
"Try it, bitch," Stephanie muttered underneath her breath.
"What did you say?" Sophie growled.
"I said try it, witch," Stephanie said louder. Despite himself and the circumstances, Klaus almost smirked.
"I'll stay," Klaus announced and the crypt immediately quieted. "But only because I need Stephanie by my side and I want to be king of the French Quarter once more. Marcel has usurped my place and he is about to find out how much of a mistake that was."
Sophie grinned. "So, where we begin is here; you need to integrate yourself into his inner circle, Klaus. Let him know that you're on his side . . ."
.
.
.
"I'm really pissed, so I'm getting a separate hotel room," Stephanie announced as they left the cemetery.
"Come on, love, it's not like any of that was my fault," Klaus complained. "The witches –"
"Don't talk to me for twelve hours," Steph interrupted. "I need some time to myself so I can reconcile the fact that you just negotiated my life in front of me, but without consulting me."
"They were going to kill you!"
"Maybe," Stephanie said. "But now we have to figure out how to overthrow your crazy vampire disciple and then make sure the witches don't kill this baby we're miraculously having!" Her shout drew the attention of several of the hotel's other guests, making Klaus twitch. He followed her to the front desk, where she negotiated with manager and got her own key card; he followed her up the stairs to her new room, and slipped inside with her.
"I should've stayed in Mystic Falls," Stephanie grumbled to herself as she shut the door.
"You still would have been pregnant," Klaus pointed out dryly, even as his mind rebelled against the thought. Him, a father? How laughable. How outrageous. How . . . frightening.
"Sh!" Stephanie waved a hand at him. "What am I supposed to tell Damon? He doesn't even know that I've slept with you since . . . the ordeal."
"'The ordeal?'" Klaus asked.
"You know what I mean." She pulled out her phone and stared at it. "He'll be an uncle," Steph murmured and she slowly sat down on her bed. "I'm going to have a baby. I'm . . . going to be a mother."
Klaus took a step forward. He wasn't sure what to do; their situation was an unusual one and something that he'd never in millennia believed possible. Did he comfort her? Support her? He didn't even know what he felt about the situation itself except for betrayal at being manipulated by some stupid witches. He didn't even know if he wanted to be a father; it wasn't like own was a good example.
"I've thought about it, before," Stephanie admitted softly. "Not a lot, granted, considering it was always an impossibility, but I knew what I was missing. I don't know what to think about this happening now."
Klaus took a another step toward her bed and then sat next to her. He tried to think of something that would stop the melancholy. "I'll be able to critique his art very well," He offered. "He'll be very skilled in brooding from you . . . and Damon can teach him how to obsess over a woman for a hundred and forty years."
Stephanie looked at him.
"You're right," Klaus said decisively. "We shouldn't let Damon anywhere near our child, my mistake." And she laughed.
"This is . . . weird."
"And dangerous," Klaus said soberly. "I'm going to take New Orleans back from Marcel and then when that's done, we'll do something about the witches."
"We are not killing them," Stephanie warned Klaus and he hummed noncommittally. "Klaus," She repeated.
"I'll do whatever it takes to keep them from hurting you," Klaus growled, "and if that means killing every last of those bastards, I'll do it."
"This is why we can't have a normal relationship," She pointed out. "Right there. Something doesn't go your way, you kill them."
"You used to, too," Klaus snapped.
"But not anymore and you said that was okay," Stephanie said pointedly. "How about we cross that bridge when we come to it? Maybe you'll find that you like the witches."
"Not likely."
Stephanie snorted. "Yeah, I'm not a real fan of Sophie Devereux either."
.
.
.
When Klaus was gone and down the hall – he'd grumbled and threatened the entire way, but Stephanie was obstinate in having some time to herself – she pulled out her phone and called Damon.
"How's Elena?"
"Trying to kill everyone we see," Damon drawled. "Oh, and we've discovered her deep, dark kleptomaniac tendencies."
"Sounds fun," Stephanie said. She cleared her throat.
There was a pause. "Is something wrong? You sound weird. Eat some bad gumbo?"
"Damon." Stephanie sighed. "No, nothing's wrong. Keep working on Elena, okay? I know she really wants to go to college."
"Well, she has to be able to go through graduation first," Damon said dryly.
"You can compel her diploma," Steph dismissed
"Stephanie Salvatore, are you suggesting I break the rules?"
"I'm going to hang up on you," Stephanie threatened.
"Love you too."
"Bye, Damon." She pressed the button to end the call and lay in her bed. She was tired and not ready to deal with Marcel the next day. Or ever. Her hand crept to her abdomen and she pressed her fingers into the flesh there.
"Hey, baby," Stephanie whispered. She could hear its tiny heart beating erratically if she concentrated. "I'm going to keep you safe," She swore. "I promise."
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tbc